The meeting was held on Thursday September 10th at MT’s home, with six members present (MT, CW, WM, RV, SC, AA). It was held in an extremely large kitchen, around a very big table, to make social distancing easy and possible all times. Three members sent their apologies, but they all sent long reviews (JH, MW, CB). The meeting started at 8:30 and ended late.
One of the published reviews described Queenie, the debut novel by the author, as an important political tome of black womanhood and black British life, a rare perspective from the margins. It is often a very moving story about one young woman’s life as affected – in fact, almost destroyed – by her love life, with the politics of blackness permeating the pages. It is set in South London where a millennial and budding journalist Queenie is, as she herself admits, a “catastrophist”: someone who worries about worst-case scenarios, unbearable outcomes, general humiliations and the perpetual lead weight of anxiety. Predictably enough, the novel has been hailed as the black Bridget Jones, and it does bear loose similarities in its portrayal of the conventional female quest for the love of a good man and the realisation that self-acceptance and self-sufficiency are more important. But it goes much deeper than that, casting a full glare on the damaging reductive stereotypes, born of slavery and colonialism, that surround black women’s bodies, sexuality and psychology. The sexual frankness throughout is refreshing, smartly and accurately rendered by a voice fully in command of its own narrative and intent on setting the record straight.
The book was chosen by MT because it was one of the “in the week” recommendations. His son went on the BM march in Bristol and was impressed by this book, and the book had mostly very good reviews, apart from one single bad review on Amazon. The majority the group said it was their first choice of the three books offered by MT.
The book promoted lengthy, heated discussions, and this occurred even before the main meeting started, as half the group arrived early, egger to start the conversations. RV commented it was one of the most interesting discussions and debates of any book club evening. The book generated passionate discussions on race issues, discrimination, women, young people’s sexuality, pollical correctness, being a minority in society, to name just a few of the themes that came up. There were lively conversations and one example was about the “black sheep” of a family, and how this can be seen as racist when using the term black not as a colour.
The book was an excellent example of a marmite book, but unusually the like/dislike was completely discriminated by age. The younger set, mean age 63, liked the book, or really liked the book with a mean score of 70%. The older set, mean age 69, did not like the book, or hated it, with a mean score of 34%. It was interesting that the two populations had a complete separation between the top and bottom of the groups of 2 years. The younger set were 64 and under, whilst the older men were 66 and over. This is unusual in statistical comparisons for the two groups to be so completely separated, with a p value of 0.000000000000000000000000000
CB did not enjoy the book. He found that even though the book dealt with some important issues, it read like stories from a magazine. He found the writing fairly unsubtle and predictable, facile at times. He did like the description of the therapy process, and liked some of the comments made such as ‘The road to recovery is not linear. It’s not straight. It’s a bumpy path, with lots of twists and turns. But you’re on the right track.’ But he found that most of the characters were not memorable, except Tom and the three women friends. He liked the portrayal of British Jamaican women (grandmother and aunt) and the complicated dynamics for them of dealing with generational differences and the failings of children and grandchildren. He did feel the book dealt with important issues of race, gender and mental health in the workplace and family relationships. So some good reminders of micro-aggression, racism, and sexism from Asian as well as white men plus sense of not fitting in with white friends.
JH did not enjoy the book, even though it was a provocative and at times funny, but rather a relentless read. He commented that Queenie as a novel seems to be part of that long line of boisterous romps that include Henry Fielding’s, Tom Jones, and Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones Diaries, that seem to be a particular niche of British literature. But he found that as he got older he finds these books less appealing – maybe a product of wisdom and hindsight or maybe he has lost what little sense of humour he had. It has a fluent, evocative narrative style that draws on a range of contemporary themes – race, gender, sex, mental health, tribulations of urban life and assorted vulnerabilities. Queenie, herself, comes over as fragile and damaged (the apparent consequence of an erratic childhood and a very vulnerable mum), yet she is also clearly very bright and capable (getting to university and a good job despite everything). He felt that the story described the mid-20’s London woman well, with all the trials and tribulations of that ilk - transient relationships, on-line dating, sexual health hassles, psycho-therapy, miscarriages, et al. In particular Queenie suffered from a rotten choice in blokes – Ted, Guy, and that literary tour de force, Addie, with his “destroyer” in the back of his Beemer. It was a useful reminder, as a father of daughters, that JH really don’t want to know too much about the detail of their lives. The novel also reminded him of the important role of grandparents as a final safety net – they maybe a pain and a bore at times but provide solace and support to all generations. He felt it was a novel to reflect on, and maybe to refer to burnish his cool credentials to his children, but not one he will treasure.
MW did not like the book and felt he did not have a lot to say about it, but he was very interested in hearing if anyone found any redeeming features in it. His main feeling reading the book was one of detachment from what was going on, with the main problem being Queenie. He found her exasperating, annoying, frustrating, superficial and just stupid. And he found the other male characters bastards or wimps. The female mates were more supportive, understanding apart from Cassandra. He didn’t find the book in any way sexy, thought provoking, insightful or funny. But he actually, strangely didn’t mind picking it up to read it and had no problem finishing it. His only favourite quote from the book was “They’re Jamaican Darcy. Doctors are the only people they trust. If he’d told them the alcohol was going to kill them they’d have jumped in a cab to the cemetery”. MW had insight into this, and felt it to be very true.
RV really disliked the book and declared it one of the worst he had read in the club, and found very little to commend it. In fact he found it so bad he could not actually write a review of his own but had to quote from the only poor review on Amazon, as most of those other review were very positive. He was extremely passionate about it being such as terrible book, but he did admit that the author had touched on some really important topics, but he felt it was so badly written. He thought all the characters were unlikeable, and the book was actually quite racist. He did comment though that the book did bring out lots of memories for him, when he was at school, being the only Jewish person in the class and the racism and isolation he experienced then. RV initially gave the book zero, but admitted that the discussion was so fruitful, that he did increase it a bit. He did finish the book though.
WM really hated the book, but agreed that the issues raised were very important. He really did not like the writing style, and felt it was a very bad first novel, as produced by a teenager. He found the text boxes irritating all the way through. He could not empathise with Queenie or even find symphony for her. He did finish the book though.
MT found the book hard to like at the beginning as certain things really annoyed him, such as the jumping in time, and context, and the mobile phone text in boxes. Initially he found this ‘young’ and unnecessary. But once he got involved in the story, he got used to these things and started liking it, and then really liked the rest of the story. He liked her extended family, especially her grandparents. He felt the book gave a good sense what being a young black women must be like, as sometimes a unique person in a predominately white society. It reminded him of his experience in Zimbabwe in the 80s, being the only white person in a township. He felt the therapy part was well done, and through that he felt he got to know Queenie, and what she must be experiencing. But he felt all her choosing really awful nasty men was the result of her break up with Tom (who seemed OK) coupled with the worthlessness she felt in her childhood. He liked her group of women friends, and the fact their group was called the Corgis, named after one of his young person favourite local bands. But he felt her sadness. He found some of the book very funny, such as the water rates OCD from the Grandfather, and the Welsh junior doctor, and Cassandra and her prudish boyfriend which turned out the same. He liked the church on Sunday bit where her aunt commented she can go, even though she has a coil fitted! He found the dating stuff very interesting and how different it was now compared to his younger days when he lived in South London near many of the places mentioned in the book, when mobile phones, or dating apps, did not exist.
CW enjoyed the book, and found it easy to read. He thought it was so up to date, with all the Text boxes, and the BLM movement being involved. He thought it described the disrespect for black women well, but thought that overweight white women might equally suffer Queenie’s fate. He really liked her, and felt sorry for her. He thought the relationship with Tom was not well described. He initially found the text boxes irritating, but then liked them. He enjoyed the discussion the book promoted, before and during the meeting.
AA liked the book, and was pleased to read it. He commented that Queenie was the same age as his daughter, which was thought-provoking. He liked that the themes of lack of self esteem and female friendship which ran through the book. He thought that child neglect and abuse was well set out, and the healing that also went on later. He liked the start and laughed out loud. He found the middle section a bit boring, and found bits of it ‘clunky’. But after that he found it really took off, and discussed some really serious themes. He really liked some sections, such as her prayers to God, and the therapy parts. He thought the writing about the mother was excellent, and found the section on naming Queenie very moving. He found the abuse of Queenie by the various men upsetting, and her mum’s relationship with Roy and the abuse well-written and moving. He said the intersectional feminism raised by the author was hard for privileged white professional middle-class men to understand. For example, men constantly touched Queenie, but not her white peers, and it was Ted who was believed at work, not her. In AA style, he ended by quoting some of his favourite phrases: “ignore her, she is just being old”, and “I guess I don’t matter. Nobody has ever wanted me, not properly”
SC agreed with AA comments, and enjoyed the book very much, although this surprised him, as he did not expect to like it, or enjoy it. He did not like the first chapter, which he felt was overplayed, especially the gynaecological bits. But after that, he really got into it, and thought it was very much a modern novel, and unusual for the club. He thought the book got much better after half way. He liked the kitchen sink dramas, and how the book developed. He thought it was a good first novel. He thought the dialogue was good. He liked Queenie, and the description of her being black, her disadvantaged life, but also the fact that she was very intelligent. He enjoyed the pace of the book, but admitted it was not the greatest work of fiction, but a brave book.
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